All set to bash

AS the Melbourne Renegades cruised to victory over the Sydney Sixers in Melbourne on Monday night, Nathan Reardon sat with pads on, waiting for a chance to bat that never came.

He was next man in as Brad Hodge and Andrew McDonald put on an unbeaten 124 together to see their team home in their Big Bash League (BBL) clash.

Not that the former Ipswich Grammar student was complaining.

"It's always nice to get out in the middle but I'm more interested about the win," he said.

"If I sit on my backside for the rest of the tournament, it means we're into the semi-finals."

Reardon's Renegades have come back from losing their opening two games to win the past two, leaving them fourth on the eight-team ladder.

"Our first two games were a bit of a struggle," Reardon said.

"But we've got plenty of talent in the team and have started to gel.

"Twenty20 is one of those games when you get a bit of momentum, you've got to try to carry it on."

Queensland one-day and occasional Sheffield Shield player Reardon had the opportunity to play with the Brisbane Heat in the inaugural BBL but chose to join the Renegades instead.

"It was a chance to get out of my comfort zone and do something different," the big-hitting all-rounder said.

"To be in a different environment with a different bunch of blokes.

"I'm looking forward to getting back to Queensland for the one and four-dayers if I get a chance.

"But it's been good getting to learn from different players."

Reardon is living in the same hotel with other imports Shaun Tait, Aaron Heal and Pakistani pair Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq.

"Everyone's getting on well so it's easy to fit in," Reardon said.

"They're a great bunch of fellas.

"It's just taken a couple of games to get to know everyone's plans."

Reardon has been impressed with the work ethic of the Pakistanis. "They're so passionate about cricket," the 27-year-old said. "They've trained pretty much every day since they've been here."

Reardon thinks the Big Bash concept is good for cricket in Australia, providing exposure for more cricketers and giving them a chance to learn from different teammates.

He concedes the hiatus in the Sheffield Shield for the duration of the BBL could pose a problem if the Australian Test team needs urgent replacements, but doesn't think Twenty20 cricket is bad for a player's technique in the longer forms of the game.

"They're not training hard enough if they let it ruin their techniques for the rest of it," he said.

Reardon has returned scores of two, 22 not out and four from his three innings at the crease.

"I hit the ball really well against the Perth Scorchers," he said of his best innings so far.

"When you're batting at five, you don't get a lot of time.

"I've had a couple of single figure scores but if you let it worry you in Twenty20 cricket, it will mess with your head.